Original British WWII 1942 Dated Royal Air Force Pith Sun Helmet by Helmets Ltd. with Transit Tin by Gieves – Both Named Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. Right out of an old collection! In splendid original condition, this is a lovely Royal Airforce Wolseley Pattern Foreign Service Helmet dated 1942, which comes in a great painted steel “Transit Tin”. Both items are named, though to different people, so it’s possible that they got mixed up over the years, or that they received the tin from a fellow R.A.F. member that was no longer in need of it.

The Wolseley pattern khaki pith helmet has it all: complete with leather sweatband and chinstrap, it still retains a simple cloth pugaree wrap above the brim, which still bears its unit’s color flash to the left side. The unit flash is made up of three vertical bands of Dark Blue/Grey/Maroon indicating use by the Royal Air Force. The inside of the helmet is in very good service used condition, and the leather sweatband bears a maker and size label near the back, which reads 6 ¾ / Helmets Ltd. / Wheathampstead / 1942. There is also a W (Arrow) D War Department markings stamped on the underside of the, as well as the name P/O J. L. HULL 146542. The aluminum foil and fabric lining on the inside of the helmet dome is in good condition, though worn.

The transit tin has a brass shield near the top, which bears the name of known Army & Navy Outfitter GIEVES Limited of London, and below this it is named to the original owner:

A. R. Cooper,
R.A.F.

The tin is in very good condition, with the classic black enamel paint with red stippling on the outside, and the inside still has great brown orange lacquer preventing oxidation of the metal. It fits the helmet quite nicely, and measures approximately 16″L x 12″W x 14″H, with an intact closure latch.

A lovely WWII R.A.F. helmet set with some great research potential!